not fluent, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, not fluent 8th, dropped to 3rd 11th, not fluent 13th, disputing 2nd after until blundered 15th, went 2nd again 4 out until between last 2, weakened soon after
never going in rear, no chance from 16th, tailed off and soon pulled up
jumped well, made all and soon clear, not fluent 4 out, clear last, stayed on gamely under pressure flat, unchallenged
chased clear winner until, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd 5th, went 2nd again after 11th until next, 2nd again 15th until mistake 4 out, weakened from after next
tracked leading trio, blundered 14th, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd between last, kept on flat and closed on winner towards finish, never able to challenge
Nonrunner
TIDAL BAY can be a law unto himself but the uphill finish here often brought the best out of him in the past and he's the one to beat on these terms if anywhere near the form of his second to Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. Punchestowns disappointed when beaten at long odds-on on his reappearance at Newbury but was entitled to need that run and can't be ignored. He's preferred to the Paul Nicholls pair of which The Tother One looks best in at the weights ahead of Neptune Collonges, though the former usually finds at least one too good. Madison Du Berlais was only fourth in this last year and finished tailed off in the King George two weeks ago so is probably worth opposing again today.
Punchestowns (FR) 4-11fav (11-7) Held up in close 4th, chasing winner as field came into view 13th, apparently upsides from 2 out, disputing lead as field came into view final 150 yards, just held close home, 2nd of 4, hd behind Pride Of Dulcote (11-4) at Newbury 3m grad ch (2) gs in Dec.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 40-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, soon behind, struggling 11th, no danger after, tailed off 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind Long Run (11-10) at Kempton 3m chs G1 (1) gs.
Neptune Collonges (FR) 15-2 (11-7) Started slowly, never able to get on terms after and always in rear, tailed off, 11th of 16, 34l behind Midnight Chase (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Dec.
The Tother One (IRE) 28-1 (9-9) Not fluent 1st, blundered 2nd, raced in mid-division, ridden along 12th, lost place and towards rear 16th, hit 17th, stayed on from 2 out, kept on well flat to close on 3rd close home, 4th of 18, 16l behind Diamond Harry (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up behind in touch, mistake 8th, outpaced when not fluent 5 out, 5th and still plenty to do next, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd last, ridden and ran on flat, closed on winner towards finish, always held, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Imperial Commander (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Taranis (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 12th on outer, not fluent next, in 6th and every chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Tartak (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs, 15 ran.
